Only Five of Disney’s Slated Films Through 2021 Are Directed by Women
Disney has unveiled the premiere dates for its upcoming films from next Friday’s “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2” through the end of 2021. Per Variety, none of the remaining 2017 films are women-helmed. And only five women are booked to direct Disney movies (or its Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm properties) over the next four years: Ava DuVernay, Niki Caro, Anna Boden, Jennifer Lee, and Meg LeFauve. It’s discouraging, to say the least.
There are a few silver linings, however. Out in 2018, DuVernay’s “A Wrinkle in Time” is the first $100 million film to be directed by a black woman. Marvel’s “The Black Panther” was originally offered to DuVernay, but she passed. Instead, “Fruitvale Station’s” Ryan Coogler, an outspoken advocate for women directors, took the reins. Also, women take center stage onscreen in movies like “The Last Jedi” and “Mary Poppins Returns.” Three films from male directors — “Cars 3,” “Wreck-It Ralph 2,” and “Toy Story 4” — boast female co-writers. And many films do not have attached or announced directors yet. We’re giving Disney the benefit of the doubt and remain cautiously optimistic that at least a few more women will be hired.
Below is our breakdown of Disney’s release schedule, year by year. Women-directed and co-directed films are bolded and films with unknown directors are marked with an asterisk (*). Lists adapted from Variety.
2017
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”— May 5
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” — May 26
“Cars 3,” co-written by Kiel Murray — June 16
“Thor: Ragnarok” — November 3
“Coco” — November 22
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” — December 15
Number of women-directed films: 0/6 films with known directors
Number of films with unknown director: Zero
2018
“Black Panther ”— February 16
“A Wrinkle in Time,” directed by Ava Duvernay — March 9
“Magic Camp” — April 6
“Avengers: Infinity War”— May 4
Untitled Han Solo Star Wars Anthology Film — May 25
“The Incredibles 2” — June 15
“Ant-Man and the Wasp ”— July 6
Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action) — August 3*
“Mulan” (Live Action), directed by Niki Caro — November 2
“Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-it Ralph 2,” co-written by Pamela Ribon — November 21
Mary Poppins Returns — December 25
Number of women-directed films: 2/10 (20%) films with known directors
Number of films with unknown director: 1
2019
“Captain Marvel,” co-directed by Anna Boden — March 8
Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action) — March 29*
Untitled Disneytoon Studios — April 12*
Untitled Avengers — May 3
“Star Wars: Episode IX” — May 24
“Toy Story 4,” co-written by Rashida Jones — June 21
The Lion King (Live Action) — July 19
Untitled Disney Live Action — August 9 Unknown*
Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action) — November 8*
Frozen 2, co-directed by Jennifer Lee — November 27
Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action) — December 20*
Number of women-directed films: 2/6 (33%) films with known directors
Number of films with unknown director: 5
2020
Untitled Pixar Animation — March 13*
Untitled Disney Live Action — April 3*
Untitled Marvel — May 1*
Untitled Pixar Animation — June 19*
Untitled Indiana Jones — July 10
Untitled Marvel — August 7*
Untitled Marvel — November 6*
“Gigantic,” co-directed by Meg Lefauve — November 25
Number of women-directed films: 1/2 (50%) films with known directors
Number of films with unknown director: 6
Finally, there are three untitled projects slated for 2021, none of which have attached directors. Overall, women directors represent about 20 percent of the Disney films with attached directors. It’s a respectable number, but we expect more from the studio that brought us Moana, Mulan, and the “Frozen” sisters.
